Raft – A Guide for New Players: Getting Started

Raft is a survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world, where players must navigate the challenges of living on a deserted raft in the vast, open sea.

Despite the fact that the last chapter of Raft came out two years ago and has received more than 250,000 favorable reviews, the game still draws in thousands of fans of the survival genre.

If you’re just starting out in Raft and are unsure of your next steps, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate your early experience!

Contents List

Contents

0.1 Contents List

1 What is the purpose of Raft?
2 Instructions for Playing the Game
3 Initial Steps You Should Take
4 Advice and Strategies for Beginners

What is the purpose of Raft?
Instructions for Playing the Game
Initial Steps You Should Take
Advice and Strategies for Beginners

What is the purpose of Raft?

In Raft, you take on the role of a scout tasked with the sole objective of finding livable land for humanity.

As you explore eight distinct story islands and assist various characters, you slowly uncover the narrative of Raft and free Utopia from the control of Olof.

Utopia represents the ultimate goal and serves as the sanctuary for displaced individuals globally. Overcoming Olof in Utopia essentially signifies the achievement of the game’s primary objective.

As mentioned in our earlier piece about post-Utopia strategies, the objectives in Raft can differ based on your preferred playstyle and the outcomes you wish to attain.

For certain gamers, the primary objective is merely to finish the narrative.

However, some individuals might prefer to endure on the abandoned raft for an entire year, construct an enormous tower in the ocean, gather every rare collectible in the game, or pursue other goals. The choice is yours.

Instructions for Playing the Game

As you embark on a new adventure and step onto the raft, the first thing you notice is a Plastic Hook in your grasp, with no guidance in sight.

Before long, you’ll notice numerous objects drifting toward your raft.

To engage in the game, you need to utilize the initial Hook by pressing and releasing the left mouse button to cast the Hook into the sea and gather the items that are floating.

Once you gather sufficient resources, you can construct different buildings to aid in your survival. The main objective is to maintain your hunger, thirst, and health levels.

As you progress, you will encounter various kinds of islands. These locations provide opportunities for discovery and the collection of additional resources that are unavailable from the sea.

After obtaining the plans for the Receiver and Antenna, you can begin your adventure in Raft by navigating to the given coordinates to discover the initial story island – the Radio Tower.

The gameplay proceeds in a cycle of these activities:

You gather materials and strive to stay alive.
You explore uncharted islands to gather additional resources.
You enhance your raft and buildings.
You arrive at a narrative island and discover coordinates that guide you to the subsequent narrative island.

The game concludes once you fulfill Utopia or reach your objectives.

Initial Steps You Should Take

The initial task in Raft is to gather as many drifting objects from the sea as you can.

To enhance your raft and construct various items, you’ll require a substantial amount of Planks and Plastics, including:

Water filtration system for purified drinking water.
Barbecue for preparing meals and seafood.
Storage space for keeping belongings.

Your initial Hook will wear down with every use and will eventually break after 40 uses. Therefore, make sure to keep at least 1 Plank and 2 Plastic on hand to create a replacement Hook.

Focus on targeting Barrels and Metal Safes first, as they yield significantly more items, including Scraps, which are essential for various recipes.

Please be aware that you can create ropes using Palm Leaves found in the Resources section (indicated by the screw icon), whereas Scraps can solely be discovered in Metal Safes or on the seabed close to islands.

Address Issues of Hunger and Thirst

To manage your hunger during the initial stages of the game, craft a Basic Grill with 6 Planks, 1 Scrap, and 3 Ropes.

Next, place it on your raft, ideally close to the center, and add some Planks as fuel to the lower section. After that, you can place any uncooked food on the grill to prepare it for future meals.

Certainly, consuming raw food is a possibility. Nevertheless, raw food provides significantly fewer hunger points compared to cooked meals.

In the initial stages of the game, raw beets and raw potatoes serve as excellent food choices. However, it’s important to reserve some of these items and create Crop Plots to cultivate them, ensuring a sustainable food supply.

If you’ve finished all your vegetables or can’t find any, create a Wooden Fishing Rod by combining 6 Planks and 8 Ropes to catch some small fish.

Prepared fish satisfies hunger significantly more than vegetables, but crafting a Fishing Rod is relatively expensive at this stage of the game.

Unlike the challenges of locating and preparing food, obtaining clean water is significantly simpler, as you can directly collect water from the ocean and purify it as many times as needed.

For additional information, take a look at our guide on obtaining water in Raft.

The Predator of the Sea

In addition to hunger and thirst, the shark poses a significant danger as it can randomly target any part of your raft, causing destruction to all the structures you have constructed.

On normal difficulty, the shark strikes every 5 minutes, and you need to inflict a minimum of 15 damage to deter it. If you fail to do so, the shark will persist in gnawing at the foundation until it is completely ruined.

At the beginning of the game, the sole weapon at your disposal is the Wooden Spear, which is made using 8 Planks and 3 Ropes.

It inflicts 5 damage with each strike, so you’ll need to strike the shark 3 times to drive it off and safeguard the foundation.

After you successfully drive it off, be sure to fix the damaged foundation to safeguard against future assaults.

Study Table and Innovative Recipes

The next step is to create a Research Table to explore new recipes.

Luckily, there’s a helpful guide available for researching in Raft. Be sure to take a look!

There are numerous valuable recipes available, but make sure to prioritize unlocking these initially:

Smelter
Sophisticated Purifier/Grill
Vacant Container
Basic Gathering Network
Metal Implements and Armaments (Reinforced Hook and Steel Spear)

Advancing in the game necessitates the use of the Smelter, whereas various tools and structures significantly enhance your overall experience.

Discover Islands

Islands appear randomly near your raft. To investigate these islands, you need to secure your raft with one of the following: a Throwable Anchor for the early stages, a Stationary Anchor for the mid stages, or an Advanced Stationary Anchor for the later stages of the game.

Islands possess distinct resources that are not available in the ocean, including:

In the initial islands, plunge into the depths of the sea and collect a minimum of 14 units of Sand and 14 units of Clay.

Next, utilize these materials to create 7 Wet Bricks and place them on your raft to allow them to dry.

You require one Dry Brick to conduct research at the Research Table, while the remaining six Bricks are needed to construct a Smelter.

Smelting Capabilities Expanded: The Smelter Upgrade Unlocks a Wealth of Crafting Possibilities. With this advancement, you can now refine a wide array of materials, enabling further research and the creation of more complex items.

A crucial material that can be processed in the Smelter is the Metal Ingot.

It is utilized in various recipes for metal tools and weapons, ultimately enabling you to put an end to shark attacks for good.

Utilize the Receiver to Initiate the Narrative.

After approximately 20 minutes of gameplay, you will obtain the designs for the Receiver and Antenna.

To utilize the Receiver, it must be positioned on the second level, accompanied by 3 Antennas.

For additional information, refer to our guide on utilizing the Receiver in Raft.

Here is the rephrased text in English:You can now freely navigate to any island of your choice (denoted by the green dots on the Receiver screen) or commence the narrative in Raft (represented by the blue dots).

Green dots on the map represent large, non-narrative islands. These islands typically contain 2 to 3 wild animals that can be captured and domesticated, allowing you to farm their resources such as eggs, wool, or milk.

Big islands feature a Trading Post, a location where you can buy a variety of cosmetics, valuable blueprints, and essential resources.

To buy items at the Trading Post, you’ll require Trash Cubes and Trade Coins.

Recycled Cubes can be crafted using the Recycler located in the Radio Tower, while Trade Coins can be acquired by selling rare fish caught with Fishing Bait to the Trading Post.

Story islands (represented by blue dots) contain resources and loot, although in smaller quantities than those found on regular islands.

The primary objective of these items is to uncover the narrative of Raft and provide you with novel recipes and coordinates to assist you in your voyage to the subsequent island.

The unique exception is Balboa Island, where you can gather an abundance of Bees to construct Beehives and produce Honey.

Content for the Mid to Late Game Phase

The gameplay loop persists, as previously noted.

Here is the rephrased text in English:You gather materials from the ocean and non-narrative islands to construct the items you require. Subsequently, you journey to each narrative-driven island to obtain more advanced tools and fulfill the diverse set of tasks.

Upon finishing every story island, your raft will undergo substantial enhancements with the addition of innovative, game-altering structures.

For instance, Vasagatan provides blueprints for the Steering Wheel and Engine, allowing you to easily turn your raft and enhance its speed.

The Caravan Settlement provides you with a Metal Detector schematic. This is one of the most crucial tools for locating Titanium.

The island’s landscape holds the schematics for the Zipline Tool and Battery Charger, essential tools for traversing other islands and replenishing power sources.

Every story island features a minimum of two fresh blueprints designed to enhance your living experience. However, we won’t reveal any more details, allowing you to discover the excitement on your own.

Advice and Strategies for Beginners

Here are several useful tips and tricks to keep in mind while playing Raft.

1. The Desire Mechanism

Consuming food and water yields better results when your hunger and thirst levels are low. This is due to the game’s craving mechanics. Therefore, it’s advisable to eat or drink when your status bar is below one-third.

Meals offer significantly more hunger points compared to single cooked or raw items. Therefore, mastering the art of cooking in Raft is essential. Below is a compilation of the top food items in Raft.

2. Keyboard Shortcuts

By pressing the Shift key while clicking the left mouse button, you can swiftly transfer items between various containers, such as chests, your inventory, or the hotbar.

By holding down the right mouse button and scrolling the mouse wheel, you can choose a precise quantity of an item.

The middle mouse button allows for swift selection of the structure you are viewing while constructing with the Hammer or the hue while applying paint.

Here is a unique rephrasing of the text “The Truth About Sails” in English:Unveiling the Enigma of Sails: Unraveling the Mysteries Behind Their Captivating DesignsSails, the iconic symbols of maritime exploration, have long captivated the human imagination. Beyond their aesthetic allure, these ingenious structures hold a wealth of intriguing truths waiting to be uncovered. From the intricate engineering principles that govern their aerodynamic efficiency to the rich historical narratives they embody, the story of sails is one of both practical and cultural significance.Delving into the technical aspects, the design of sails is a masterful blend of science and artistry. The precise curvature and orientation of the fabric panels, coupled with the strategic placement of reinforcements, enable sails to harness the power of the wind with remarkable precision. This optimization of wind energy propulsion has been a driving force behind the evolution of seafaring vessels, from ancient galleys to modern-day yachts.Yet, the significance of sails extends far beyond their functional role. They have become symbols of human ingenuity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of exploration. The unfurling of sails has marked the beginning of countless voyages, each one a testament to the human desire to venture beyond the horizon and discover new worlds. The rich tapestry of maritime history is woven with the stories of explorers, traders, and adventurers who have harnessed the power of the wind to navigate uncharted waters.In the realm of art and culture, sails have inspired countless works of literature, painting, and photography. Their graceful silhouettes and the interplay of light and shadow have captivated the creative minds of artists throughout the ages, transforming the humble sail into a canvas for artistic expression.Ultimately, the truth about sails lies in their multifaceted nature. They are not merely functional components of a ship, but rather embodiments of human innovation, the thirst for discovery, and the enduring beauty of the natural world. By delving into the intricate stories they have to tell, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the remarkable feats of engineering and the timeless allure of the open sea.

Adding multiple Engines can substantially boost the speed of your raft, but increasing the number of Sails does not provide any additional speed benefits.

To learn more about the functionality of Sail, take a look at this article.

4. Always Secure Your Raft When Discovering Islands.

Misplacing your raft is a frequent issue that occurs regularly.

As all elements in the game generate in the vicinity of your raft, it’s crucial to secure it in place whenever you plan to investigate an island or plunge into the sea to gather materials.

5. Steer Clear of Constructing at the Periphery of the Raft

To prevent shark attacks, it’s essential to construct key buildings at the center of the raft. If the foundation is compromised, all the structures that rely on it will be lost as well.

The engine is the most critical and frequently lost component for new players. Losing the engine can be a devastating experience, as it is a fundamental part of the game that is essential for progress and success.

This equipment requires multiple support structures, so it is crucial to guarantee that all underlying foundations are reinforced or enclosed.

Here is the rephrased text in English:6. Avoid Plucking Blooms in the Initial Stages

In the initial stages of the game, flowers serve little purpose unless you’re looking to decorate your raft right away.

Each flower occupies as much as two spaces in your inventory, so it’s best to avoid picking them up if you can.

7. Ways to Enhance Your Vision Distance

To gain a broader perspective, tilt your camera to about a 45-degree angle from your initial position.

Adjusting your field of view in the settings can also enhance the distance mentioned above.

Here’s how to navigate and advance in Raft!

Do you have any recommendations for this guide? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

Binh Tran

As a writer in the gaming industry, I aim to create captivating, informative, and succinct content. Whether exploring the newest gaming trends or developing game guides, I am always eager to share my perspectives with the community.